Catalytic synthesis of organic substitution products.



F. G. KEYES. CATALYTIC SYNTHESIS OF ORGANIC SUBSTITUTION PRODUCTS.

APPLICATION FIL ED IAN. I3, 914.

Patented Aug. 21, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

F. G. KEYES.

CATALYTIC SYNTHESIS OF ORGANIC SUBSTITUTION PRODUCTS. APPLICATION FILED 1AN.I3, 1914.

1 ,237,652 Patented Aug. 21, 1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2- W/TA/ESSE -UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. I f

FREDERICK G. KEYES, EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO COOPER HEWITT ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

CATALYTIC SYNTHESIS OF ORGANIC SUBSTITUTION PRODUCTS.

1,237,652. Original application iiled m 25, 1913,

T al lwho m it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK G. KEYEs,

a citizen of the United States, and residentv ditions of ordinary manipulation. In carrying out my process I may rely upon certain energizing means such as electrically excited uartz tubes containing mercury vapor or some suitable gas for producing the rad1a tion by electrical means.

I have illustrated one application of the invention in connection with certain derivatives of benzene or compounds of benzene which has the formula C H For one or more of the'hydrogen atoms of the benzene; I may substitute CH and may replace (by my process) two of the latter atoms of hydrogen with bromin. For example to produce dibrom-xylene I may mix bromin with the benzene derivative and expose the mix-' '30 ture to the effect of the radiation from the quartz mercury vapor tube which catalyzes the reaction with a copious evolution of gas eous hydro en bromid the' dibrom compound remaming behind. 'This process proceeds ordinarily only in sun-light. and then very slowly, but with my use of the radiation from a quartz lamp, catalyzing takes place with tremendously greater rapidity and certainty. The particular materials 40-here chosen are merely illustrative of my" general method, and my invention is broad enough. to coverthe application of catalyzing radiations to'chemical synthesis in conv 1 dle, 14, being kept in mot1on 1f desired durnection with a -m ercury -vapor apparatus;

ing these results, though quartz is 0 en ad} vantageous.

I have found certain forms of: apparatus useful in carrying out these processes and the flask for other ingredients.

sirable that the material be thoroughly charge has been acte neither is the quartz a necessity in reduc- Specification of Letters Patent. I .PatentedAug. 21, 1917.

Serial No; 781,049. Divided and this application filed January 13, 1914. Serial No. 811,816.

' efficient apparatus and Fig. 3 an apparatus adapted for continuous operation.

In the first figure, 1 is a flask of quartz containing the mixture to be acted upon; 2 I

is a cork or closing plug; 3 is a vent tube and 4: a condenser which condenses vapors arising from the materials within the flask and permits them to return to the flask as .liquid through the action of gravity. The

materials to be acted upon, 5, are assembled in the flask which is exposed to the influence of a mercury vapor quartz tube of thewell known type. As quartz is transparent to the radiationsfrom this source, it will transmit its influence within the flask and permit the procedure of the reaction.

In Fig. 2 I show at 1 an enlarged quartz vessehhaving formed integral therewith a mercury vapor tube, 6, also having walls of .-quartz and supplied with electrodes 7 and 8 outside the flask -1. I provide a vent, 3, a

condenser, 4, as in Fig. 1,'but also furnish a reservoir, 9, for one of the ingredients, say

mixed to secure complete and uniform reaction and to bring all of the material under the'in-fluence of the radiation, so I furnish a stirring rod I or paddle, 14, carried out driving-mechanism at 16. When, how, current is passed through the mercury vapor device, 6, the catalyzing radiations areproduced and the charge, for

example, oftoluene and halogen begins to react as already ex lained. When this upon it may be removed and a fresh charge treated, the padng this process. Any -vapors which may appear will" seek the vent, 3, and there will he condensed on the walls of the vent which are cooled .by the condenser, 4, and will trickle backinto the main body of the flask. In Fig. 3, 17 is the tubular portion of the .mercury vapor apparatus having a quartz container, an anode 18, a mercury cathode, 19, and a starting anode 20. I surround this It is de.-.

I vapor apparatus with a jacket, 21, having an inlet, 22, and an outlet, 23, and a vent, 3, and a condenser, 4, therefor. I may also, when desired, surround the tube, 17, with a jacket, 25, which jacket may beexhausted, if desired. All the parts so fardescribed,

except the electrodes, may be made of quartz,

This apparatus is adapted to continuous operation. The ingredients to be actedupon, suitably mixed, as for example, a halogen mixed with a hydrocarbon, are fed in at the inlet, 22, and pass at a suitable velocity up and around the tube, 17, being acted upon as they pass by the radiations produced by the'current and finally are delivered to the outlet, 23, with the chemical reaction complete. With the vacuum jacket around the tube, 17, the liquids passing through the jacket, 21, are protected from the heat produced during the operation of the current'between-the electrodes, 18 and 19. The condenser, 4, and the'vent, 3, act as in the system shown in the other drawings.

I wish it understood that my invention is not limited to the use of quartz for the container of the vapor electric apparatus, nor for the apparatus containing the liquid to be operated upon, but any material transparent to the particular emanations or radiations relied upon may be substituted therefor. Neither do I limit myself to a mercury vapor apparatus as a source of catalyzing radiation for I may use other forms of electric discharges or any other source of suitable radiations such as may serve in any articular case.

My metho may be used where a hydrocarbon is to be acted upon by an element or a mixture of elements, especially the halogens for its applicability is very general. Neither do I wish to limit myself to liquids for gaseous materials and even solids may similar results are obtained by equivalent means, they fall within the scope of my invention.

This ap lication isa division of my application erial Number 781,049, filed July 25th, 1913-. v I claimv as my invention:

' be acted upon by the same means and, where 1. The method of catalyzing a chemical reaction, which consists in subjecting a reaction mixture to actinic rays from a source which generates more heat than desired for I the reaction and protecting the reaction mixture from undue heating by a vacuum chamber interposed between the source and the reaction mixture.

2. The method of increasing the speed of operation of a catalyzing apparatus which consists in subjecting a reaction mixturetherein to act1n1c rays from a source which generates more heat than desired for the reaction and protecting the reaction mixture from undue heating b a vacuum chamber interposed between sai source and said mixture.

Signed at New York in the county of 

